Here are my random thoughts as I get a grip on having cancer at 42 (now 49) years old. I would like to inspire hope in all of you and in myself as well as to provide a place for you to keep track of me through this ordeal.

April 30, 2010

On Friday, May 7th, FLHW will be hosting our 2nd annual 'FLHW Friday Night at the Greenhouse' event. The owner of Suburban Lawns and Garden will be donating 10% of all sales between 5pm and 8pm, at the 105th and Roe store to FLHW. He also provides live music, beverages and light snacks. It is a very nice event and will be a fun night! It's also the Friday before Mother's Day, so a great time to pick up some flowers!

The following day is the 3rd annual 'FLHW PC Doubles Shootout'. It will be played again at the beautiful Thornfield disc golf course, a privately held course in Stilwell, KS. This disc golf tournament will attract approximately ninety disc golfers for two eighteen hole rounds, lunch, a few beverages and prizes for the winning teams. As with the ball golf tournament, the day will run smoothly due to the help of the FLHW Board and the wonderful volunteers. This year we will be selling limited edition, commemorative discs. Even if you do not play disc golf, please consider buying one to help support the cause! Discs are $25 including shipping (domestic). Email me at 'info at flhw.org' if you are interested. We've already had some sales, which is great. There is a picture of the disc below. We appreciate everyone's support! The picture on the front of the disc was taken at last year's event.

April 29, 2010

Today the Federal Drug Administration approved Provenge for use in certain men with advanced prostate cancer. Here is the press release: http://bit.ly/bgfhul

This is the first new treatment for advanced prostate cancer to be approved in something like 15 years.

With an estimated 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer each year, and with approximately 27,360 men expected to die from the disease in 2009, this is significant. Just to be clear, this is NOT a cure. Provenge is a new treatment that has shown a survival benefit of four months

over the current treatment, Taxotere. Additionally, it is given over three treatments spanning a month and the side effects are significantly less than those associated with chemo (Taxotere).

There are a lot more details to be released from Dendreon such as availability, cost and where it will be available. Dendreon has provided more information at: http://www.provenge.com

My ability to use it in the future is uncertain. I'm not sure I will qualify and I'm not sure how much and/or where I can even get it for some time. The important thing is that it is now another viable option in my very narrow inventory of future treatment options.

April 26, 2010

short for, "I'm down with that", meaning, "I am in agreement with the current topic of discussion."

PSA…..down another seven percent to 118.3!

Yes, it is still high, but a decrease is a decrease and as my statistics teacher use to say: two data points make a trend line! Another indication that things are better is another marker that we track to determine the cancer activity in my body, my Alkaline Phosphatase level is down to 40, the lowest it has been in close to two years.

Overall, the past four weeks have flown by. Between work and planning for the two upcoming FLHW events in May, the days go by quickly. I played in a disc golf tournament on Saturday. After 36 holes in the rain, my legs seem to have fully recovered from the strain I unknowingly put on them riding the stationary bike. I was just trying to get in a little cardiovascular exercise! Mary has mandated that the bike is now off limits. Yes I know, it's for my own good. We're committed to walking on a regular basis, so that will be the new regimen.

That's all for now. I find I have so much less to say when the news is good! Go figure.

April 20, 2010

Looks like I'm going to have to permanently park the stationary bike. Last week, after two eighteen minutes rides of 4.6 miles on Tuesday and Friday, I began to experience some pain in my thighs and hips. Advil is helping but sleeping has been restless the past few nights.

Not riding is kind of a big deal. I'm not a runner and now I'm not a biker, so I'm going to have to find another source for a cardio workout? Swimming might be an option but I have always been the type that leaving the house to work out just doesn’t happen. If I can’t walk down stairs to do it, I won’t. I'm still working out the upper half of my body, but Mary and I may have to start walking on a regular basis in order to exercise my lower half.

Overall, the new treatment seems to be working, if I can base it on how I feel. I will find out next Monday when we have our monthly appointment with Dr. V. and I have another blood test. I have a have a pretty good feeling that we will get good results.

Spring is in full bloom and I really can’t wait to get some flowers in the ground over Mother's Day weekend!

April 12, 2010

Well, for once in this battle I wage, I have planned an event further than a month out. I have been discussing with my friend Mark for months and months the fact that I have never seen U2 in concert. While I may not be the biggest fan in comparison to Mark and my other friend Gary, I have been a fan since the early 1980's.

For me, my first U2 exposure goes back to the University of Missouri, 1983. Though I only attended Mizzou for the fall semester of '83, the memories are vivid nearly thirty years later. Before you ask, no I did not flunk out. I left for others reasons that are too long to include here. Fortunately, I did continue my education and eventually earned a bachelor's degree as well as an MBA, but it would have been nice to complete my undergrad program at Missouri. Leaving is one of my few regrets in life.

Now, back to U2, Bill and I were assigned to a dorm floor that turned out to be party central, imagine that!One of the guys we came to know was a guy Jay. It turns out Jay worked at the campus radio station and therefore had access to some fantastic music. Twenty-seven years later I still have the mix tape Jay made. It contains XTC, Big Country and many of the Alternative Bands of the early 1980's. The one that stuck with me most was of course U2. The three songs he included were: Sunday, Bloody Sunday, Gloria and Refugee. In case you were wondering, the title of this blog is a line from the U2 song "Refugee". I wonder if that tape even plays anymore?

Last week I took a big step and made plans for July. While this may not seem monumental to you, as I often mention here, looking even a few months ahead is something I do not do very frequently, due to the battle with this disease. Concert tickets and plane tickets have been purchased and the hotel is booked. Mark, Gary, myself, and a few others will be at the Soldier Field event in Chicago!

So now that I have taken care of a personal event, next up on the 'planning' list is the ultimate family vacation! Oh where do we go?

April 08, 2010

If you are one of the fans of this blog and you happen to have advanced metastatic Prostate Cancer, there is a group that needs your help. Oxford Outcomes is conducting a survey and is struggling a little to find participants. Not only can you help the cause, you can earn $50 just for spending an hour on the phone answering questions.

April 04, 2010

It's Easter week, and as you regulars know, it's always an emotional week for me.

Tonight begins the Triduum, which concludes on Easter Sunday.

I was honored when asked to present the Oil for the Sick to Father on the alter, but it was the song below that really stuck with me.

We sang the chorus in Latin

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Happy Easter to everyone and may the peace and grace of God be with you all.

Ubi Caritas

Where good and love are, God is there.Christ's love has gathered us into one.Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.Let us fear, and let us love the living God.And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.As we are gathered into one body,Beware, lest we be divided in mind.Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,And may Christ our God be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.And may we with the saints also,See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:The joy that is immense and good,Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

April 01, 2010

I received this from a fellow PCa survivor. So instead of April Fools hysterics, I thought I'd include it here.

In particular, this goes out to Brian.

To all my brothers out there trying to win the battles!

Be the kind of man that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, he's up!"Brother, life is too short to wake up with regrets, so love the people who treat you right.Love the ones who don't, just because you can.Believe everything happens for a reason.If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.If it changes your life, let it.Kiss slowly.Forgive quickly.God never said life would be easy, he just promised it would be worth it.

Today is Brother's Day. Send this to all your brothers, fathers, sons.

If you get back 7, you are loved.Happy Brothers Day!I LOVE YA BROTHER!!!